CDC: Acute Flaccid Myelitis Cases Appear to Have Peaked for 2018

The number of cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in the United States this year appears to have peaked and is expected to decline for the remainder of 2018, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of Nov. 30, 134 cases of AFM had been confirmed in 33 states out of 299 cases reported to the CDC. This number is an increase of 18 confirmed cases from the previous week, but most of the latest confirmed cases occurred in September and October.

Even though fewer cases are expected in the coming months, health officials will continue to study AFM to learn more about the condition and better diagnose, treat, and prevent it in the future, according to the CDC.

The agency noted a pattern of higher numbers of confirmed cases every two years. There were 120 cases in 2014, 22 in 2015, 149 in 2016, and 33 in 2017. Most cases are reported between August and October, with significant reductions in November. That pattern appears to be repeating this year, the CDC said.

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